Brief forays into the world of ciao from dooyoo...
Will ciao hook me too?
Watch this space!
Brief forays into the world of ciao from dooyoo...
Will ciao hook me too?
Watch this space!
Member since:10.09.2000
Reviews:26
Members who trust:12
Cats and Dogs – another movie I got dragged along to see by my kids. In fact they needed cheering up, and they’d been asking me when we could go to see this, so I psyched myself up for a boring afternoon (never trusted their taste in movies since having to endure Good Burger!) and off we went. I’m thankful at this point that I didn’t get to read the newspaper reviews until after we’d seen it because we probably never would have gone!
Cats and dogs have been warring since the beginning of time, so the adverts go, a war which is going on under our very noses, and one which we think we are all aware of….
** The movie begins with a sequence where a perfectly normal cat is chased by an apparently perfectly normal dog who belongs to an apparently perfectly normal American family, the Brodys. Cat evades dog, dog looks stupid, but barks and attacks in all the right places…it’s funny, it’s exaggerated, but it’s also very normal….that is until we discover that the cat/dog war is much more sophisticated than any of us mere humans have ever imagined….
Exit perfectly normal dog (who was in fact a highly-trained secret agent and has been captured by the
cats) and enter an ambitious adventure-loving beagle puppy who sneaks his way past the selected replacement agents (Not Good!) and into the affections and household of the Brodys.
Professor Brody is, in fact involved in an all-encompassing search to discover the cure for his (and so all humankind’s) dog allergy and is therefore the target for the hatred of the cats and the protection of the dogs. Jeff Goldblum (Independence Day, Jurassic Park – archetypal distracted professor-type) plays Professor Brody while his long-suffering real-estate agent wife is played by Elizabeth Perkins. Inevitably there is a Brody child - Alex (neglected by the father, needing the dog for companionship) who is played by 11 yr old Alexander Pollock from Vancouver. To be honest, the human actors, although acceptable, are completely overshadowed by the animals, and quite rightly so, I guess, in a movie of this name.
Plot-wise, there is much that is predictable, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out the ultimate denouement which is completely formulaic. There are, however, so many genuinely funny moments that the predictable sentimentality which the reviews I’ve read in the papers object to becomes almost irrelevant.
If you’re prepared to adopt a less than sophisticated mindset for this one, then you will be rewarded. So it’s a predictable plot. So it follows many movies before it in the climactic denouement. So what?! This movie is genuinely funny, hilariously tongue-in-cheek and brilliantly choreographed between real animals, puppets and computer imagery. I laughed more than I have done in a long time, my kids giggled almost non-stop, and hearing the new radio ads for the video and DVD release has once again got us quoting lines from the movie.
We laughed from the point of view of dog lovers. Dogs are the heroes. They are faithful, brave and intelligent. The cats, however have the funniest characters without a doubt, and most of the belly-laughs were down to the evil Persian Mr Tinkles with his plans for World Domination. I could quote him verbatim, but I really don’t want to spoil it for you, let me just say that there is a point at which he is pretending to be his owner, the elderly and infirm Mr Benson, and imperiously informs “his” factory workers “This is your manager, Mr Benson, not some evil cat bent on world domination!” All this after ordering sushi and a quart of cream instead of morning coffee, from Mr Bensons bemused secretary. Mr Tinkles is voiced by Sean Hayes.
The dog and cat breeds used have been chosen as having characteristics appropriate to their characters. Lou, the Brody’s pup and the hero of the movie is in fact a pocket beagle – only 10” high and chosen for its playfulness alongside its size which makes a full-grown dog appear very puppy-like. 5 dogs and one puppet were used in the filming of Lou, and more than 2000 hours were put into the training of the animals. Apparently with Lou, much of this involved play!
Susan Sarandou voices Ivy the “domestically challenged” saluki while Butch, the experienced agent watching over and non-too-amused by Lou is voiced by Alec Baldwin and played by an Anatolian Shepherd dog, which is a new one to me, but is a breed which seems to be well-suited to Butch’s character and role. A mention must be given here to Peek, a Chinese Hairless who plays the electronics expert and to the fact that Michael Clarke Duncan (yes, he of Green Mile fame!) is the voice behind Sam the Old English Sheepdog...
As for the cats, well, prepare for Ninjas and a Russian “kitten” who coughs up the most interesting furballs you’re ever likely to see. See this and laugh. Don’t expect a storyline which will hold together under scrutiny, but do expect a lot of fun and some truly hilarious scenes which you’ll be reminding eachother about for weeks to come and maybe even longer.
Cats and Dogs is very very witty. It’s funny for kids and it’s funny for adults. I saw it with my 3 boys age 10 – 14 and we all rated it around 9/10 for watchability and hilarity. This may not be a potential classic like Shrek, but it’s a movie I predict we’ll be watching again, and one which I find it difficult to imagine not being enjoyed by your kids! Definitely one to see.
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Production Year: 1993 - Family - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Michael Caine, The Muppets, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, David Rudman, Steve Whitmire
Family - Director: Sarah Ball - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Neil Morrissey, Noddy Holder, Alison Steadman, Stephen Tompkinson, Chris Evans, Elton John, Bob The Builder
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Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
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![Cats And Dogs [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78521214.jpg "Cats And Dogs [DVD]")
![Cats And Dogs [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78545313.jpg "Cats And Dogs [DVD] [2001]")
Dec 3rd, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
